Disadvantaged status info box

[shaidester]

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Hi guys,

Does any of my bullet points down below sound bad to the admission committees? I am signing up as a disadvantaged student, and I mention the following things in the box that asks to clarify:

- Throughout my life, I lived in a home funded by a program that provides for public housing where you pay a certain % of your monthly income. Rent is cheaper than other areas because of a household's low-income status.

- I was on free and reduced lunch through most of K-12.

- First generation college student. Highest education mom received was high school.

- Mom was widowed. I had to help pay the rent two years in college because mom earned like $20k a year (I specify these numbers in the box they provide).

- I had a family issue where a sibling went to jail for about a year and I had to pay to bail him out with my college savings ($5000) and I specify this number too.

Does mentioning any of these harm me as an applicant?

 

[rmw3]

Maybe you don't need to be so specific to mention numbers; adcoms aren't the IRS.

 

[DentalDoge]

No, especially if you can show you've managed to do the same thing the rest of us had done despite your situation.

 

[stomatology]

I think that those points are all solid ones and make a strong case. Make sure you also talk about how you persevered through those circumstances and how they have shaped the person you have become.

 

[Dentalguy8621]

Hi guys,

Does any of my bullet points down below sound bad to the admission committees? I am signing up as a disadvantaged student, and I mention the following things in the box that asks to clarify:

- Throughout my life, I lived in a home funded by a program that provides for public housing where you pay a certain % of your monthly income. Rent is cheaper than other areas because of a household's low-income status.

- I was on free and reduced lunch through most of K-12.

- First generation college student. Highest education mom received was high school.

- Mom was widowed. I had to help pay the rent two years in college because mom earned like $20k a year (I specify these numbers in the box they provide).

- I had a family issue where a sibling went to jail for about a year and I had to pay to bail him out with my college savings ($5000) and I specify this number too.

Does mentioning any of these harm me as an applicant?

Harm you in what way? I think these are worth mentioning but say what you learned/how you grew when dealing with these extenuating circumstances. Agree with previous poster about eliminating the numbers aspect of things.

 

[shaidester]

So should I mention a sentence or 2 about how these shaped me in the same box? Maybe somewhere near the end? Thanks for the feedback everyone!

 

[derbear]

I understand that you had difficult situations in your past, however, I believe that you should focus on how you overcame your obstacles to be where you are today. You need to try your best to not make it seem like an excuse or an easy way in...I know that sounds harsh, but it is the reality (Honestly, I am sorry to hear about these challenges and I, personally, could never imagine myself in your shoes...so kudos to you for pushing through).

 

[stomatology]

Are you not writing a disadvantaged status essay? The character limit is 4500. That should be plenty of space.

 

[shaidester]

I didn't think I had to use up all of that space. Right now I have approximately 1200 characters with spaces mentioning all of these things I highlighted in the beginning. This does not include any major points of reflection or how these events shaped me today. I was under the impression the box was asking about the events that led to your disadvantaged status only though.

 

[Dentalguy8621]

I didn't think I had to use up all of that space. Right now I have approximately 1200 characters with spaces mentioning all of these things I highlighted in the beginning. This does not include any major points of reflection or how these events shaped me today. I was under the impression the box was asking about the events that led to your disadvantaged status only though.

Write until you feel you have explained your situation thoroughly.

 

[EndoP]

I thought this part was to be an essay or at least in paragraph form

 

[shaidester]

Mine is in paragraph form/essay style.

 

[Clinicall]

.

 

[catman856]

Im disadvantage as well, im hispanic and economically poor..(URM)